Discovering fossil spiders has become fairly common.1 Each time they have been 100% spiders, not vague evolutionary ancestors with partial or transitional features.2

Now a whole collection of “ancient” spiders from the Cretaceous (Albian) Jinji Formation in Korea has been discovered.3 This is a significant discovery because these small arachnids were found to have a special eye membrane called the tapetum (təˈpiːtəm)—a paleontological first.

There is nothing simple or archaic about the tapetum (or tapetum lucidum). This structure is found in a variety of animals, from teleosts (fish) to nocturnal mammals such as owls and moths. It’s composed of a layer of cells found either outside the retina or in it. The tapetum contains guanine crystals, zinc, and riboflavin (a protein that actually fluoresces—it shines). Light striking the eyes of a cat at night, for example, is highly reflected, giving the eerie appearance of the eyes “glowing.” The purpose of this reflective membrane seems to be to increase the sensitivity of the eye to dim light.

The evolutionary researchers estimate the Jinji spider fossils are around 110 million years old and were gradually buried in lake sediments. Gradually? I beg to differ. These creatures had no hard shell or bones that would have aided preservation, but were buried so rapidly that even the imprints of their tiny leg hairs can easily be seen. There was no indication of the predation or scavenging one would expect if burial were slow and gradual. A rapid burial of these arachnids due to the Genesis Flood about 4,500 years ago is a far better explanation.